Mumbai: The city is all set to get Mumbai Eye on lines similar to that of the iconic London Eye to facilitate tourists to get a vantage view of the city’s skyline. At a meeting of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), which was attended by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, these and many other proposals were approved Friday.
The MMRDA will be the implementing agency and undertake a technical feasibility study for the 'Mumbai Eye' project. The project to build India's first giant observation wheel - on the lines of the popular London Eye on the banks of River Thames - as a tourist attraction was first mooted by the erstwhile Maha Vikas Aghadi government at the Worli side of the sea link
"There is no doubt that if this project is implemented, the tourism sector of Mumbai Metropolitan Region will be boosted and Mumbai Metropolis will be world class," said metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA on Friday.
When asked about the location, he said, "Location yet to be finalised, we will appoint the consultant to finalise all the details related to the project, it will be either BKC or South Mumbai ( BVPT). Aarey colony will be also in this list, but most probably it will come up in BKC."
Approval was also granted to construct a 3.8 km long four-lane road tunnel linking Ballard Estate's Orange Gate, Eastern Freeway and Marine Drive on the upcoming Mumbai Coastal Road, at an estimated cost of around Rs 6,500 crore. It will be the third and longest road tunnel of Mumbai. Currently, there is a 1 km long road tunnel on the Eastern Freeway, Mumbai's first, besides another 2.07 km long twin-tunnel ready on the Mumbai Coastal Road Project which is likely to be operational this year-end.
"The cost estimates for the civil works of constructing a twin tunnel between Borivali and Thane passing through the Sanjay Gandhi National Park has also been approved. The project will be implemented in three packages in which civil works shall be completed in two and the Intelligent Transportation System will be in the third package" said an official of MMRDA.
